Filament-wound, toroidal tire with pneumatic rim-locking tube

ABSTRACT

A closed membrane, toroidal tire having a cord reinforced rubber tube positioned within the tire casing, and inflatable for automatically urging the inner casing portion in locking relation against the rim of an aircraft or other, vehicular wheel on which it is mounted.

United States Patent [1 1 Brewer 1 Feb. 12, I974 FILAMENT-WOUND,TOROIDAL TIRE [56] References Cited 1 WITH PNEUMATIC RIM-LOCKING TUBEUNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: Howell K, Brewer, Dayton, Ohio1,041,739 10/1912 Chipley 152/339 [73] Assignee: The United States 01America as B 6 represented by the Secretary of the FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Air Force, Washington, DC. 20,956 4/1897 Great Britain152/339 [22] Filed: July 1972 Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman [21]Appl. No.: 271,467

I [57] ABSTRACT [52] U 8 Cl 152/339 152/350 152/393 A closed membrane,toroidal tire having a cord rein- 152/415 forced rubber tube positionedwithin the tire casing,

[51] Cl 860C 5/00 B60C 15/02 and inflatable for automatically urging theinner cas- [58] 331 322 325 ing portion in locking'relation against therim of an aircraft or other, vehicular wheel on which it is mounted.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FILAMENT-WOUND, TOROIDAL TIRE WITH PNEUMATICRIM-LOCKING TUBE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention'relatesgenerally to inflatable pneumatic tires and, in particular, to atoroidal tire having built-in and automatic gripping means for attachingthe tire to a wheel.

In conventional tires, the tire casing is usually attached to the rim ofa wheel on which it has been assembled by means of beads or bead ringsin the form of wire bead hoops. The latter are generally incorporated inor adjacent the open, inner end portions of the conventional tire casingby wrapping the plies thereof in several layers around the said'hoops.Although this method has proven to be relatively satisfactory inproviding for the attachment of the tire casing to the wheel;nevertheless, failures have occurred as a result of the build-up ofconsiderable heat in the relatively large mass at what is known as theply turn-ups which have been formed by the aforementioned wrappings ofseveral layers of the tire casing-plies around the wire bead hoops. Inaddition to the above-noted disadvantage of the heat failure in the plytum-up area, the use of such beads or bead rings further results in theformation of relatively high wheel flange loadings that ultimately leadto failures in the wheel.

On the other hand, with the use of the closed membrane, toroidal tire ofthe present invention, no bead is used or needed and, therefore, thepreviously-referred to wheelflange failures have been eliminated, sincethe tire loadings are absorbed within the closed membrane structure perse. Of course, the previously-noted heat failure in the ply turn-ups ofthe conventional tire has also been eliminated in the toroidal tire.However, naturally some means must be provided for positively attachingthe torodial tire to the wheel with sufficient gripping strenght tosuccessfully resist relative movement between the tire casing and thewheel during both braking and cornering operations. Heretofore, sometype of bonded, rim-locking means was proposed for this purpose. Anexample of the latter consisted of a rigid of an inch to 12 inch thick,fiber glass-epoxy composite strip in the form of a hoop that waspositioned and held within an appropriate groove incorporated within theinside surface of, and thereby forcing or expanding a selected tirecarcass-test specimen outwardly for locking engagement against a wheelflange, when an inflation pressure was applied thereto. However, thisarrangement proved unsatisfactory, during tests thereof, because of theincompatibility of the extreme rigidity of the fiber glass-epoxymaterial with the relatively resilient, tire casing-material during theapplication of a load or deformation thereto. This incompatibilityresulted in a bond failure and thus an unacceptable separation of therigid, rim-locking hoop from the tire casing.

The new and novel rim-locking device of the present invention wasdeveloped as a result of the further investigation of, and constitutes aunique means of providing a simple and yet positive grip between themain carcass of a toroidal tire and the wheel on which it is mounted, bya unique technique that is improved in a manner to appear self-evidenthereinafter in the following summary and detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists briefly in aclosed membrane, toroidal tire mountable on the rim of a wheel andhaving a main, tire casing that incorporates a casing liner on theinside surface thereof, and a pneumatic rim-locking tube interposedbetween the casing liner and the inner circumference of the casing.Separate inflation valves are respectively utilized, first, to initiallyinflate the tire casing, after its mounting on the wheel rim, and,secondly, to thereafter inflate the rimlocking tube. The latter elementis fabricated by wellknown means with reinforcing cords that may bequite easily placed in criss-crossed position and varied betweenrelatively small and relatively large cord angles respectively locatedon, or just within the upper and lower surfaces thereof. With thisspecific orientation, expansion of the outside diameter surface of therimlocking tube is restricted, whereas contraction of the insidediameter surface thereof is promoted.

Inherent objects and advantages of this invention will become readilyapparent hereinbelow from the following disclosure thereof, taken inspecific connection with the ccompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall assembly view,partly schematic and in cross-section, illustrating a toroidal tirecasing incorporating the new and improved rim-locking tube of thepresent invention and shown on the rim of a wheel;

FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively represent side elevation and plan views, moreclearly depicting details of the pneumatic rim-locking tube of theinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a relatively enlarged, cross-sectional and partly schematicview, taken about on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and illustrating additionaldetails of the rim-locking tube of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring generally to thedrawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, an inflatable pneumatictire is illustrated generally at 10 as being mounted on the rim 12 of aspecial wheel, indicated generally at II. The tire I0 incorporates aclosed membrane, toroidal tire casing, indicated generally at 13, andwhich includes a pair of side walls, at 14 and 15, thelatter shownincorporating a sidewall inflation valve 16, a tire tread 17 with treadreinforcing belts indicated generally and schematically at the referencenumeral 18, and closed, inner end portion or circumference at 19 which,unlike conventional tires, provides the previously-noted closedmembrane, toroidal tire. In this regard it is noted that the method andmachinery for fabricating the present inflatable pneumatic tire casingfrom a cordreinforced rubber composite and thereafter molding the samein the shape of a closed toroidal membrane shell of revolution are notshown, since such a tire casing per se'is not the subject of the presentinvention. The only essential requirement is, of course, that the closedmembrane be made sufficiently strong to sustain the internal, inflationair pressure to be applied thereinto. Uniquely positioned within theclosed toroidal tire casing 13 is the new and novel inflatable,pneumatic rim-locking tube 20 constituting the key feature andimprovement of the present invention. The said rimlocking tube 20 ismaintained in contacting relation with the inside surface of the innercircumference 19 of the toroidal tire casing 13 by means of an innertire casing-liner 21 formed on the inside of said casing 13. The tube 20may or may not be bonded to the tire casing during the curing of thetire.

The above-described pneumatic rim-locking tube 20 maypreferably consist,in cross-section as is also seen in FIG. 4, of a relatively flat bodythat may be reinforced and consist of rubber. Of course, since the tube20 naturally completely encircles the rim of the wheel 11 (FIG. 1), itsappearance in side elevation is that clearly depicted in FIG. 2. Asnoted hereinbefore, the rim-locking tube 20 is reinforced and, since itsfunction is to expressly urge the inner circumference 19 of the tirecasing 13 inwardly to a position of positive looking or grippingengagement with the aforesaid rim of the wheel 11, the reinforcement ofthe gripping engagement with the tube 20 is preferably made by means ofa plurality of reinforcing cords, indicated generally at 23 in FIG. 4.These cords 23 may be incorporated, for example, in a criss-crosspattern in a first layer formed on, or adjacent to the outer diameter20a of the tube 20, at relatively small cord angles to each other, as isindicated, for example, generally and schematically at 23a in FIG. 3, tothereby create a relatively rigid and non-expandable surface and thusrestrict any expansion thereof, and in a second layer formed on, oradjacent to the inner diameter 20b thereof at relatively large cordangles to each other to thus create a relatively resilient surface thatenhances or promotes the inward contraction thereof.

In operation, the pneumatic tire may be assembled on the wheel 11, whichwheel 11 has been specially modified from that of conventional tire andwheel assemblies to eliminate the usual wheel flange configuration forreceiving thereagainst the beaded areas thereof. Inflation of the tire10 may then be accomplished through use of the sidewall inflation valve16 (FIG. 1). Next, the internal, rim-locking tube 20, which may bepreviously inserted on the inside diameter of the mandrel prior to itsuse to filament-wind the tire casing, as at 13, is inflated through theseparate inflation valve 22. The latter inflation action causes theinner diameter b of the tube 20 to contract inwardly and thus force thelower portion or inner circumference 19 of the tire casing 13 into asubstantial gripping relation with the wheel 11. Of course, aspreviously described, the simple use of reinforcing cords, as at 23, ina crossing pattern with respect to each other and disposed at cordangles varying between relatively small angles at the outer diameter 20a(Note FIG. 3, for example) and relatively large angles at the innerdiameter 20b promotes the above-noted contraction of the pneumaticrim-locking device 20,'on application of an inflation pressurethereinto.

Thus, a unique, and yet a simplified and automatic gripping means hasbeen developed by the present invention for incorporation within themain carcass of a closed membrane, toroidal tire by which a positivecoupling has been provided between the tire casing and the wheel onwhich it is mounted.

I claim:

1. An inflatable pneumatic tire mountable on the rim of an aircraft orother vehicular wheel and comprising; a main, completely air-tight,closed membrane-tire casing composed of a resilient composite materialand cord-reinforced to thereby sustain the application of an internalair pressure thereinto, without further external support, and furtherhaving an outer diameter portion, a tire tread portion formed on saidouter diameter portion, a pair of sidewall portions integrally formed tosaid outer diameter portion and an inner diameter portion integrallyformed to, and completely enclosing said sidewall portions in air-tightrelation thereto, and disposed relative to, and seated within, and incontact with the wheel rim, a first, inflation valve incorporated rim;one of said sidewall portions in communcation with the interior, andthereby ensuring the inflation of, said main tire casing; auxiliaryinflatable, rim-locking means positioned within said main tire casing;inherently builtin, reinforcing-and-tire casing mounted means disposedto trap and thereby prevent the outward expansion of the outer side ofsaid auxiliary, rim-locking means and, simultaneously therewith, bothmaintain the inner side thereof in continual contact with the insidesurface of the inner diameter portion of said main tire casing, andconfine its expansion to a relative contraction in the inward directiononly; and a second, inflation valve communicating with the interior of,and operable, after the initial assembly of the main tire casing on thewheel rim and the application of an inflation pressureinto the interiorof said auxiliary, rim-locking means, to automatically provide for thesaid inward expansion or contraction of the inner side of saidrim-locking means and thus positively urge the inner diameter portion ofsaid main tire casing into a positive gripping engagement with the wheelrim.

2. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said inherentlybuilt-in, reinforcing-and-tire casingmounted means comprises an innertire casing-liner element formed on, and enclosed by the inside surfaceof said tire casing for thereby providing for the positive support ofthe said auxiliary inflatable means.

3. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said auxiliaryinflatable, rim-locking neams comprises a completely closed tube member.

4. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said auxiliaryinflatable, rim-locking means comprises a relatively flat tube member.

5. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said auxiliaryinflatable, rim-locking means comprises a relatively flat, pneumaticrubber tube member incorporating cord-reinforcing means.

6. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 5, said pneumatic rubbertube member comprising an outer diameter-tube portion in contact withsaid tire casing liner; and an inner diameter-tube portion in contactwith the inside surface of the inner diameter portion of said main tirecasing.

7. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 6, wherein saidcord-reinforcing means comprises a plurality of reinforcing cordsoriented in a criss-cross pattern respectively disposed at relativelysmall cord angles on, and thereby providing a relatively rigid,non-expanding outer diameter-tube portion, and at relatively large cordangles on, and thus facilitating the inward contracting of, the innerdiameter-tube portion to ensure the said positive gripping engagement ofthe inner diameter portion of said tire casing in contact therewith,

with the wheel rim.

1. An inflatable pneumatic tire mountable on the rim of an aircraft or other vehicular wheel and comprising; a main, completely air-tight, closed membrane-tire casing composed of a resilient composite material and cord-reinforced to thereby sustain the application of an internal air pressure thereinto, without further external support, and further having an outer diameter portion, a tire tread portion formed on said outer diameter portion, a pair of sidewall portions integrally formed to said outer diameter portion and an inner diameter portion integrally formed to, and completely enclosing said sidewall portions in air-tight relation thereto, and disposed relative to, and seated within, and in contact with the wheel rim, a first, inflation valve incorporated rim; one of said sidewall portions in communcation with the interior, and thereby ensuring the inflation of, said main tire casing; auxiliary inflatable, rimlocking means positioned within said main tire casing; inherently built-in, reinforcing-and-tire casing mounted means disposed to trap and thereby prevent the outward expansion of the outer side of said auxiliary, rim-locking means and, simultaneously therewith, both maintain the inner side thereof in continual contact with the inside surface of the inner diameter portion of said main tire casing, and confine its expansion to a relative contraction in the inward direction only; and a second, inflation valve communicating with the interior of, and operable, after the initial assembly of the main tire casing on the wheel rim and the application of an inflation pressureinto the interior of said auxiliary, rim-locking means, to automatically provide for the said inward expansion or contraction of the inner side of said rim-locking means and thus positively urge the inner diameter portion of said main tire casing into a positive gripping engagement with the wheel rim.
 2. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said inherently built-in, reinforcing-and-tire casing-mounted means comprises an inner tire casing-liner element formed on, and enclosed by the inside surface of said tire casing for thereby providing for the positive support of the said auxiliary inflatable means.
 3. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary inflatable, rim-locking neams comprises a completely closed tube member.
 4. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary inflatable, rim-locking means comprises a relatively flat tube member.
 5. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary inflatable, rim-locking means comprises a relatively flat, pneumatic rubber tube member incorporating cord-reinforcing means.
 6. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 5, said pneumatic rubber tube member comprising an outer diameter-tube portion in contact with said tire casing liner; and an inner diameter-tube portion in contact with the inside surface of the inner diameter portion of said main tire casing.
 7. An inflatable pneumatic tire as in claim 6, wherein said cord-reinforcing means comprises a plurality of reinforcing cords oriented in a criss-cross pattern respectively disposed at relatively small cord angles on, and thereby providing a relatively rigid, non-expanding outer diameter-tube portion, and at relatively large cord angles on, and thus facilitating the inward contracting of, the inner diameter-tube portion to ensure the said positive gripping engagement of the inner diameter portion of said tire casing in contact therewith, with the wheel rim. 